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Flanagan going for three in a row, promotion, in Maryland

May 23, 2007
By Chris Reimer PGA TOUR Staff

MITCHELVILLE, MD --The Nationwide Tour visits the nation's capital for the Melwood Prince George's County Open this week at the Country Club at Woodmore, the 11th of 32 events on the Nationwide Tour schedule.

All eyes will be on Nick Flanagan as the 22-year-old native of New South Wales, Australia, goes for his third victory this season in as many starts. Flanagan posted a spectacular final-round 7-under-par 65 to edge Nicholas Thompson (64) by a single shot at last week's BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs to become the first player since Jason Gore in 2005 to win in back-to-back starts.

If Flanagan can manage another victory this season, he will earn the coveted three-win promotion -- an immediate ticket to the PGA TOUR. He would become the eighth player in Tour history to claim the three-win promotion and the first since Jason Gore in 2005.

It won't be easy for Flanagan as the Country Club at Woodmore requires superb ball striking against a field that includes 23 of "the 25" top players on the Tour's money list. Woodmore isn't the longest course, playing to 7,094 yards, but with tight fairways and noticable rough, the course will require great golf. The $600,000 event is the first PGA TOUR sanctioned tournament in Prince George's County since Skip Alexander won the 1948 National Capital Open on this same golf course.

"Everyone I talk to loves the course," said PGA TOUR winner Chris Smith. "It's not the longest course we play, but it's a classic type of golf course that the players really enjoy."

The field also includes 15 PGA TOUR winenrs who have combined to win a total of 33 PGA TOUR events. Players will continue to effort for a place in a new program called "The 25" that will highlight the players who are currently in the top 25 on the money list and in line to earn their 2008 PGA TOUR cards. Each week the caddies of the top-25 players will wear a gold bib designating the player's current position on the money list. The top-25 Nationwide Tour money winners at the end of the season will secure 2008 membership on the PGA TOUR.

Melwood, the charitable beneficiary of the tournament, is a unique charity this week as the company provides training, employment, community living and travel for those with developmental disabilities.